Apple today announced that more than 100,000 iPhone developers have downloaded the beta iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) in the first four days since its launch on March 6. Here is more info:

"The iPhone SDK provides developers with the same rich set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools that Apple uses to create its native applications for iPhone and iPod touch.

?Developer reaction to the iPhone SDK has been incredible with more than 100,000 downloads in the first four days,? said Philip Schiller, Apple?s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. ?Also, over one million people have watched the launch video on Apple.com, further demonstrating the incredible interest developers have in creating applications for the iPhone.?

Apple also previewed the new App Store, a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to every iPhone and iPod touch user. Developers set the price for their applications?including free?and retain 70 percent of all sales revenues.

Leading developers such as AOL, Electronic Arts, Epocrates, salesforce.com and Sega have already demonstrated amazing applications using the SDK, and developer response continues to be phenomenal with more developers embracing the platform.

?The iPhone SDK gives us the tools we need to create powerful iPhone applications and is an important part of our overall mobile strategy,? said Rick Jensen, senior vice president, Small Business Group at Intuit. ?We?re excited that the iPhone expands the ways our customers can solve key financial tasks wherever they might be.?

?We?re very excited about Apple?s new SDK and reaching every iPhone user through the new App Store,? said Scott Rubin, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Namco Networks. ?We can?t wait to show off great new versions of arcade classics like PAC-MAN and Galaga that use the revolutionary features of the iPhone and iPod touch.?

?Apple?s tools have provided our development team the flexibility to make the SuitePhone application richer and deeper,? said Luke Braud, vice president, Software Development, NetSuite. ?NetSuite is excited at the opportunity to give every iPhone customer access to their critical business data anytime, anywhere.?

?Apple?s become an important mobile game platform with the iPhone SDK,? said Jason Kapalka, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, PopCap. ?The new SDK gives us the tools to innovate and reinvent games like Bejeweled, Zuma and Peggle. With the new App Store we can reach every iPhone and iPod touch user on the planet.?

?Seventy percent of the retail price is hands-down the best deal out there in mobile. It?s simple and motivating for developers,? said Wayne B. Yurtin, president and CEO, Rocket Mobile, Inc. ?We can?t wait to get our first iPhone applications on the revolutionary App Store.?

?Six Apart pioneered the mobile blogging experience with an iPhone-optimized blog service,? said Chris Alden, CEO, Six Apart. ?We?re taking it to the next level with our native iPhone application for TypePad that?s already in development.?

?The iPhone is the mobile platform game developers have been dreaming of,? said Scott Zerby, vice president, THQ Wireless. ?We?re looking at how we can use the iPhone?s innovative user interface to create new game experiences for our big brand entertainment partners that consumers love.?

Pricing & Availability The free beta iPhone SDK is available immediately worldwide and can be downloaded at developer.apple.com/iphone/program. The iPhone Developer Program will initially be available in the US and will expand to other countries in the coming months. A QuickTime video of the iPhone roadmap event is available to view at www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/iphoneroadmap "